On Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:13:21 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:08:22 -0500, HK wrote:

You do it your way, I'll do it mine. It costs only a couple of pennies
to do it my way.

Cost is not the issue, difficulty is. Unless you take your batteries
off the boat (also overkill in my experience), then you have to go out
to the boatyard, run extension cords, get under the winter cover, etc.
When we lived north I eventually came to the conclusion that none of
that was really necessary. This was somewhat influenced by ownership
of a boat that had 160 pound 8D batteries. :-)


Unlike Harry I have faith in modern, 3 stage chargers with a "float mode"
maintainer that is intended to be left on permanently. The Navigator has a
dual output version used to charge and maintain the thruster batteries.
It's been on 24/7 for over 3 years now, the batteries are in excellent shape
and have never needed to have water added. The three other batteries on the
boat (3-8D's) are charged with an older ferroresonant, 3 output charger.
Those batteries have already been replaced due to boil off after spending
time in Florida, plus I just replaced one again because we load tested it
and it had a bad cell. I explored replacing the older style charger with a
modern, 3 stage "smart charger", but the price for a 3 output, 80-100 amp
unit was too high to justify. It's cheaper to replace the 8D's every 4 or 5
years.

I also have had excellent service from several small, Schumacher Electric
1.5-2 ampere battery float type battery maintainers. They are inexpensive
(about 20 bucks) and cost pennies a month to operate. I use them on both
motorcycles, the GTO, the Porsche and the JD tractor during the winter. I
leave them on 24/7 (as they are designed and intended to be used) and they
keep the batteries in good state of charge without overcharging. Before
using them I usually had to replace the motorcycle batteries every spring.
Keeping the batteries charged on modern vehicles like the newer Harley and
the Porsche is also important because there is a small but significant draw
on the battery while the vehicle is in storage due to the theft alarms and
the radio memory.

The diesel tractor is left outside and it fires up on the coldest of days
thanks to the fully charged battery. That reminds me. I need to pick up
another Schumacher for the little Boston Whaler's battery.

Eisboch


Thanks. I needed the reminder to put the bike battery on the charger.

Done.